St Giles warns against under-estimating the criminal exploitation of girls

Girls and young women are increasingly being put at risk of criminal exploitation because services and resources are being channelled towards boys and young men. Furthermore, gaps in understanding of the scale and nature of the issue exacerbate the issue. 

This comes as emerging anecdotal evidence from our teams highlights evolving gang grooming tactics targeted at girls, with promises of cosmetic procedures such as filler, Botox and lash extensions being used. Tactics such as these differ from the traditional ones fitting the male grooming stereotype and can often be inadvertently overlooked.  

This highlights the need for targeted funding to increase understanding and knowledge, alongside providing services to address the issue.  It also underlines the importance of incorporating the voices of girls and young women into service design to ensure that services meet their needs.  

Girls and young women accounted for nearly a third of the new people who engaged with our services addressing child criminal exploitation in the last year. These services provide girls with a safe space offering mentoring and support to build resilience, identify healthy relationships and move their lives forward in a positive way.  Some of our staff have been in similar situations themselves and have a real understanding of what the young women are going through.  

A complex mix of factors are increasing vulnerability amongst girls and young women.  These include poverty, exclusion from education and unaddressed mental health issues.

Tracey Burley, Chief Executive of St Giles, said:

“Whilst it is still vitally important to address criminal exploitation amongst boys, the role of girls in this complex picture often goes unseen.  As a result, they are flying under the radar, not receiving the support they need and having the rest of their young lives affected as a result.” 

Tracey continued:

“We need more specialist services for both girls and boys at risk and to listen the voices of those who have been directly affected. The often hold the key to solutions and can help guide others forward.” 

Snapshot data from one of our projects supporting girls and young women has shown tangible results.  Independent evaluators found that out of 129 girls who participated in St Giles’s Expect Respect project in Wolverhampton: 

• 98% reduced their missing episodes from school and/or home 
• 93% had reduced contact with the police 
• 78% increased their understanding of the risks of child criminal exploitation 
• 74% reduced their risk of involvement in violence